Essential Computer Concepts

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition2 What Is a Computer? A computer is an electronic device that accepts information and instructions from a user, manipulates the information according to the instructions, displays the information in some way, and stores the information for retrieval later

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition3 Computer Systems Includes computer hardware and software – Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer – Software refers to the intangible components of a computer system, particularly the programs, or lists of instructions, the computer needs to perform a specific task The design and construction of the hardware of a particular computer is referred to as its architecture or configuration The technical details about each component are called specifications

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition4 Processing Hardware The motherboard is the main electronic component of the computer – Circuit board The microprocessor is one of the most important pieces of processing hardware on the motherboard Cards are removable circuit boards

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition5 Input and Output The data or instructions you type into the computer are called input The result of the computer processing your input is referred to as output Peripheral devices accomplish input and output functions

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition6 Input Devices You use an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to input data and issue commands – Keyboard Ergonomic – Pointing device Controls the pointer Mouse – Scroll wheel Trackball Touch pad Pointing stick – Scanner

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition7 Output Devices Output devices show you the results of processing data – Monitor Flat panel LCD CRT – Printer Laser Inkjet Dot matrix

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition8 Data Representation Binary digits (bits) A series of eight bits is called a byte – Kilobyte (KB or K) – Gigabyte (GB) – Terabyte (TB) ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition9 Memory Random access memory (RAM) – Volatile memory – SDRAM Cache memory (RAM cache or CPU cache) Virtual memory

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition10 Memory Read-only memory (ROM) – BIOS – Nonvolatile memory Complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory (CMOS) Semipermanent memory

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition11 Storage Media A computer file is a named collection of stored data An executable file contains the instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task A data file is created by a user

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition12 Storage Media Flash memory – Flash memory cards – USB flash storage device – USB drive (flash drive)

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition13 System Software System software manages the fundamental operations of your computer – Operating system System resource Multitasking – Utilities – Programming Languages

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition14 Application Software Application software enables you to perform specific computer tasks, such as document production, spreadsheet calculations, and database management – Document production software

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition15 Application Software – Web site creation and management software – Spreadsheet software – Database management software

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition16 Application Software Presentation software

XP New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition17 Application Software Photo editing software Multimedia authoring software Accounting software Information management software